A brief is the summary a buyer gives to explain what they need, why they need it, and what a provider should understand before proposing work.
A deliverable is the specific output, asset, or completed piece of work the provider agrees to supply.
A discovery call is an early conversation used to understand the buyer's needs, assess fit, and clarify whether a project should move forward.
Escrow is a payment arrangement where funds are held by a neutral system until agreed conditions or milestones are met.
A milestone is a defined stage in a project that marks progress, review points, or payment triggers.
Onboarding is the process of getting a new project, client, or service relationship set up properly before the main work begins.
A retainer is an ongoing service arrangement where a buyer pays regularly for continuing access, recurring work, or reserved provider capacity.
A scope of work is the practical definition of what will be delivered, what is included, and what boundaries apply to the work.
